Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered the installation of advanced sensors and early warning systems at vulnerable Himalayan glacial lakes. This initiative aims to mitigate the risk of flash floods and safeguard communities located downstream. The directive was issued on Thursday, reflecting the government’s commitment to enhancing disaster preparedness in the region.
State to Survey Sensitive Glacial Lakes Amid Rising Concerns
The state has identified 13 glacial lakes as sensitive, with surveys of four already completed. Vinod Kumar Suman, secretary of Disaster Management and Rehabilitation, stated that scientific assessments of the remaining lakes will be conducted in phases. An expert team is set to survey Saraswati Tal in Chamoli district and Kedartal in Uttarkashi district. These surveys will evaluate the current conditions of the lakes, including water levels, size changes, surrounding terrain, potential hazards, and downstream impacts.
This initiative comes in response to increasing worries about the risks posed by glacial lakes, particularly the dangers of sudden water level changes affecting nearby settlements. The chief minister emphasized the need for comprehensive risk-mitigation strategies that extend beyond mere monitoring and warning systems. Officials have been tasked with identifying vulnerable areas, mapping potentially affected zones, establishing safe evacuation routes, and enhancing local communication networks and preparedness for relief and rescue operations.
This would include continuous monitoring of sensitive lakes, installation of advanced sensors and warning equipment, real-time data collection, expansion of monitoring devices where required and alternative communication channels for emergency alerts.
Suman said the government was developing an end-to-end response mechanism covering the entire chain from detection and warning to evacuation, relief and rescue.
